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7/29/2019 ENVI LAWS
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History
While it is possible to identify earlier legal structures that would today fall into the "environmental" law metric - for
example thecommon law recognition of private and public rights to protect interests in land, such as nuisance, or post-
industrial revolution human health protections - the concept of "environmental law" as a separate and distinct body of
law is a 20th Centurydevelopment.[1]The recognition that the natural environment was fragile and in need of speciallegal protections, the translation of that recognition into legal structures, and the development of those structures into a
larger body of "environmental law" did not occur until about the1960s. At that time, numerous influences - includinga growing awareness of the unity and fragility of thebiosphere following mankind'sfirst steps into outer space(see,
for example, the Blue Marble), increased public concern over the impact of industrial activity on natural resources and
human health (see, for example, the1969 Cuyahoga River fire, the increasing strength of the regulatory state, and more
broadly the advent and success of environmentalism as apolitical movement- coalesced to produce a huge new body
of law in a relatively short period of time. While the modern history of environmental law is one of continuing
controversy, by the end of the 20th Century, environmental law had been established as a component of the legal
landscape in alldeveloped nationsof the world, manydeveloping ones, and the larger project ofinternational law.
[edit] Controversy
Environmental law is often the source of controversy. Notably, the early history of national environmental regulation
in the United States (at the time the world leader in environmental regulation) was marked by relative political unity.TheNational Environmental Policy Act (1969), theClean Air Act(1970), the Clean Water Act (1972), and the
Endangered Species Act (1973) all were enacted with broad bipartisan support, and ultimately signed into law by
RepublicanPresident Richard Nixon. Even then, however, critics raised concerns regarding the need for such laws and
the costs involved in implementing them. Richard Nixon himself initially vetoed the Clean Water Act, citing its
projected costs, though he was ultimately overridden by Congress.[2] Debates over the necessity, fairness, cost, and
need for environmental regulation continue to this day.
[edit] Necessity
The necessity of directly regulating a particular activity due to the activity's environmental consequences is often a
subject of debate. These debates may be scientific. For example, scientific uncertainty fuels theongoing debate over
greenhouse gas regulation and is a major factor in the debate over whether to ban pesticides.[3]
[edit] Cost
It is very common for regulated industry to argue against environmental regulation on the basis of cost. Indeed, in the
U.S. estimates of the environmental regulation's total costs reach 2% ofGDP,[4] and any new regulation will arguably
contribute in some way to that burden. Difficulties arise, however, in performing cost-benefit analysis. The value of a
healthy ecosystem is not easily quantified, nor the value of clean air, species diversity, etc. Furthermore environmental
issues may gain an ethical or moral dimension that would discount cost.
[edit] Effectiveness
Environmental interests will often criticize environmental regulation as inadequately protective of the environment.Furthermore, strong environmental laws do not guarantee strong enforcement. Nonetheless, the cost benefit analysis
for society at large between having laws that protect citizens from toxic or dangerous living and work conditions such
as those that existed in the early industrial 1800's or not clearly comes down on the side of regulation.
[edit] Environmental Law Around the World
Many countries have adopted comprehensive environmental laws. Many nations ascribe to and follow, to varying
degrees, international agreements regarding environmental issues.
[edit] International Environmental Law
Pollution does not respect political boundaries, makinginternational law an important aspect of environmental law.
Numerous legally binding international agreements now encompass a wide variety of issue-areas, from terrestrial,
marine and atmospheric pollution through to wildlife and biodiversity protection.
While the bodies that proposed, argued, agreed upon and ultimately adopted existing international agreements vary
according to each agreement, certain conferences, including 1972's United Nations Conference on the Human
Environment, 1983'sWorld Commission on Environment and Development, 1992's United Nations Conference on
Environment and Developmentand 2002's World Summit on Sustainable Development have been particularly
important.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuisancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuisancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-0%23cite_note-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-0%23cite_note-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biospherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_explorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_explorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_explorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Marblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuyahoga_River#Environmental_concernshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuyahoga_River#Environmental_concernshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Policy_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Air_Act_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Air_Act_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Air_Act_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Water_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-1%23cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_controversyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_controversyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-2%23cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-3%23cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost-benefit_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_valuationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_environmental_agreementshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Conference_on_the_Human_Environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Conference_on_the_Human_Environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brundtland_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brundtland_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brundtland_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summit_(1992)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summit_(1992)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summit_(1992)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summit_2002http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuisancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Industrial_revolutionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/20th_Centuryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-0%23cite_note-0http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1960shttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biospherehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_explorationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Marblehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuyahoga_River#Environmental_concernshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_movementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developed_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Developing_countryhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Policy_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Air_Act_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Water_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republican_Party_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Nixonhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-1%23cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_warming_controversyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-2%23cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GDPhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-3%23cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost-benefit_analysishttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ecosystem_valuationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_ethicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=5http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_environmental_agreementshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Conference_on_the_Human_Environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Conference_on_the_Human_Environmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brundtland_Commissionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summit_(1992)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summit_(1992)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earth_Summit_20027/29/2019 ENVI LAWS
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[edit] IEL: Organizing principles
International environmental law's development has included the statement and adoption of a number of important
guiding principles. As with all international law, international environmental law brings up questions ofsovereignty,
legal reciprocity ("comity") and even perhaps the Golden Rule. Other guiding principles include thepolluter pays
principle, theprecautionary principle, the principle ofsustainable development, environmentalprocedural rights,common but differentiated responsibilities, intragenerational andintergenerational equity, "common concern of
humankind", andcommon heritage.
[edit] IEL: Sources
[edit] Treaties, protocols, conventions, etc.
International environmental agreements are generallymultilateral (or sometimesbilateral
) treaties(a.k.a. convention,
agreement, protocol, etc.). The majority of such conventions deal directly with specific environmental issues. There are
also some general treaties with one or two clauses referring to environmental issues but these are rarer. [citation needed] There
are about 1000 environmental law treaties in existence today; no other area of law has generated such a large body of
conventions on a specific topic.[citation needed]
Protocols are subsidiary agreements built from a primary treaty. They exist in many areas of international law but areespecially useful in the environmental field, where they may be used to regularly incorporate recent scientific
knowledge. They also permit countries to reach agreement on a framework that would be contentious if every detail
were to be agreed upon in advance. The most widely known protocol in international environmental law is theKyoto
Protocol, which followed from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
[edit] Customary international law
Customary international law is an important source of international environmental law. These are the norms and rules
that countries follow as a matter of custom and they are so prevalent that they bind all states in the world. When a
principle becomes customary law is not clear cut and many arguments are put forward by states not wishing to bebound. Examples of customary international law relevant to the environment include the duty to warn other states
promptly about icons of an environmental nature and environmental damages to which another state or states may beexposed, and Principle 21 of the Stockholm Declaration ('good neighbourliness' or sic utere).
[edit] International judicial decisions
International environmental law also includes the opinions of international courts and tribunals. While there are few
and they have limited authority, the decisions carry much weight with legal commentators and are quite influential on
the development of international environmental law. One of the biggest challenges in international decisions is to
determine an adequate compensation for environmental damages.[5]
The courts include: theInternational Court of Justice (ICJ); the international Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS);
theEuropean Court of Justice;European Court of Human Rights[6] and other regional treaty tribunals. Arguably the
World Trade Organisation's Dispute Settlement Board (DSB) is getting a say on environmental law also.
Important cases have included:
Trail smelter arbitration, 33 AJIL (1939)
Nuclear weapons testing cases, such as between New Zealand and France before the International Court of
Justice;
Gabcikovo-Nagymaros Dam Case, ICJ Rep (1997)
[edit] IEL: Administration and enforcement
Main article: United Nations Environment Programme
[edit] IEL: Education and Training
The IUCN Academy of Environmental Law[7] is a network of some 60 law schools worldwide that specialise in the
research and teaching of environmental law.
[edit] Australia
[edit] Environmental Law in China
http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereigntyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereigntyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule_(ethics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polluter_pays_principlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polluter_pays_principlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polluter_pays_principlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergenerational_equityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergenerational_equityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergenerational_equityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_heritage_of_mankindhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_heritage_of_mankindhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_heritage_of_mankindhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=9http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_environmental_agreementshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multilateral_treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multilateral_treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilateral_treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty#Protocolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Framework_Convention_on_Climate_Changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Framework_Convention_on_Climate_Changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customary_international_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-4%23cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Human_Rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Human_Rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-5%23cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Human_Rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail,_British_Columbia#Trail_smelter_arbitrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail,_British_Columbia#Trail_smelter_arbitrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_testinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Environment_Programmehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-6%23cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=15http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=16http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=8http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sovereigntyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golden_Rule_(ethics)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polluter_pays_principlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polluter_pays_principlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precautionary_principlehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_developmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procedural_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intergenerational_equityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convention_on_Biological_Diversityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_heritage_of_mankindhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=9http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=10http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_international_environmental_agreementshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multilateral_treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bilateral_treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treatyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Treaty#Protocolshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kyoto_Protocolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Framework_Convention_on_Climate_Changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=11http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Customary_international_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-4%23cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Court_of_Human_Rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-5%23cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Organisationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trail,_British_Columbia#Trail_smelter_arbitrationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_weapons_testinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Court_of_Justicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations_Environment_Programmehttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-6%23cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=15http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=167/29/2019 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According to the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency, "China has been working with great determination in recent
years to develop, implement, and enforce a solid environmental law framework. Chinese officials face critical
challenges in effectively implementing the laws, clarifying the roles of their national and provincial governments, and
strengthening the operation of their legal system."[8] Explosive economic and industrial growth in China has led to
significant environmental degradation, and China is currently in the process of developing more stringent legal
controls.[9] The harmonization of Chinese society and the natural environment is billed as one of the country's top
national priorities.[10]
See alsoMinistry of Environmental Protection of the People's Republic of China.
[edit] Environmental Law in the United States
Considered in terms of historical precedence and worldwide emulation, the United States has been a world leader in
the development and implementation of environmental law. While subject to criticism at home and abroad on issues of
protection, enforcement, over-regulation, and imposition of externalities, the country remains an important source of
environmental legal expertise and experience.
[edit] U.S. Sources
Laws from every stratum of the laws of the United Statespertain to environmental issues. TheUnited States Congresshas passed a number of landmark environmental regulatory regimes, but many other federal laws are equally
important, if less comprehensive. Concurrently, the legislatures of the fifty states have passed innumerable comparable
sets of laws.[11] These state and federal systems are foliated with layer upon layer of administrative regulation.
Meanwhile, the U.S. judicial system reviewsnot only the legislative enactments, but also the administrative decisions
of the many agencies dealing with environmental issues. Where the statutes and regulations end, the common law
begins.[12]
[edit] U.S. Federal statutes
Main article: List of United States Federal Environmental StatutesSee also:Environmental policy of the United States
[edit] U.S. Federal regulation
Consistent with the federal statutes that they administer, U.S. federal agencies promulgate regulations in theCode of
Federal Regulations that fill out the broad programs enacted by Congress. Primary among these isTitle 40 of the Code
of Federal Regulations, containing the regulations of theEnvironmental Protection Agency. Other import CFR
sections include Title 10 (energy), Title 18 (Conservation of Power and Water Resources), Title 21 (Food and Drugs),
Title 33 (Navigable Waters), Title 36 (Parks, Forests and Public Property), Title 43 (Public Lands: Interior) and Title
50 (Wildlife and Fisheries).
[edit] U.S. Judicial decisions
The federal and state judiciaries have played an important role in the development of environmental law in the United
States, in many cases resolving significant controversy regarding the application of federal environmental laws in favor
of environmental interests. The decisions of the Supreme Court in cases such as Calvert Cliffs Coordinating
Committee v. U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (broadly reading the procedural requirements of theNational
Environmental Policy Act
),Tennessee Valley Authority v. Hill (broadly reading theEndangered Species Act
), and,
much more recently, Massachusetts v. EPA (requiring EPA to reconsiderregulation of greenhouse gases under the
Clean Air Act) have had policy impacts far beyond the facts of the particular case.
See also:List of environmental lawsuits
[edit] U.S. Common law
The common law oftortis an important tool for the resolution of environmental disputes that fall beyond the confines
of regulated activity. Prior to the modern proliferation of environmental regulation, the doctrines ofnuisance (public or
private), trespass,negligence, and strict liabilityapportioned harm and assigned liability for activities that today would
be considered pollution and likely governed by regulatory regimes.[13]These doctrines remain relevant, and mostrecently have been used by plaintiffs seeking to impose liability for the consequences of global climate change.[14]
The common law also continues to play a leading role in Americanwater law, in the doctrines ofriparian rights and
prior appropriation.
[edit] U.S. Administration
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Code_of_Federal_Regulationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Federal_Regulationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_40_of_the_Code_of_Federal_Regulationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Title_40_of_the_Code_of_Federal_Regulationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_Protection_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Policy_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Environmental_Policy_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Valley_Authority_v._Hillhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endangered_Species_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_v._EPAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_greenhouse_gases_under_the_Clean_Air_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Regulation_of_greenhouse_gases_under_the_Clean_Air_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_environmental_lawsuitshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=25http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuisancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trespasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negligencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strict_liabilityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-12%23cite_note-12http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-13%23cite_note-13http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riparian_water_rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prior_appropriation_water_rightshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=267/29/2019 ENVI LAWS
4/4
In the United States, responsibilities for the administration of environmental laws are divided between numerous
federal and state agencies with varying, overlapping and sometimes conflicting missions. TheU.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) is the most well-known federal agency, with jurisdiction over many of the country's national
air, water and waste and hazardous substance programs.[15] Other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
ServiceandNational Park Servicepursue primarily conservation missions,[16] while still others, such as theUnited
States Forest Service and theBureau of Land Management, tend to focus more on beneficial use of natural resources.[17]
Federal agencies operate within the limits offederal jurisdiction. For example, EPA's jurisdiction under the Clean
Water Act is limited to "waters of the United States". Furthermore in many cases federal laws allow for more stringent
regulation by states, and of transfer of certain federally mandated responsibilities from federal to state control. U.S.
state governments, therefore, administering state law adopted under statepolice powersor federal law by delegation,
uniformly include environmental agencies.[18] The extent to which state environmental laws are based on or depart
from federal law varies from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
Thus, while a permit to fill non-federalwetlands might require a permit from a single state agency, larger and more
complex endeavorsfor example, the construction of a coal-fired power plantmight require approvals from
numerous federal and state agencies.
See also:List of environmental organizations#Government organizations
[edit] U.S. Enforcement
In the United States, violations of environmental laws are generally civil offenses, resulting in monetary penalties and,
perhaps, civil sanctions such as injunction. Many environmental laws also provide forcriminal penalties for egregious
violations. Environmental agencies often include separate enforcement offices, with duties including monitoring
permitted activities, performing compliance inspections, issuing citations and prosecuting wrongdoing (civilly or
criminally, depending on the violation). EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assuranceis one such agency.
Others, such as the United States Park Police, carry out more traditional law enforcement activities.
Adjudicatory proceedings for environmental violations are often handled by the agencies themselves under the
strictures ofadministrative law. In some cases, appeals are also handled internally (for example, EPA's EnvironmentalAppeals Board). Generally, final agency determinations may subsequently be appealed to the appropriate court.
Other environmental law enforcement agencies include:
Fora Verde, a branch of the Brazilian Armed Forces which was established decades ago to protect against
environmental crimes.[19]
Green Police, an environmental task force inNew Jersey.[20]
Veteran Environmental Patrol ofIsraelstarted fielding uniformed officers in 2001.[20]
[edit] U.S. Education and training
Environmental law courses are offered aselective coursesin the second and third years ofJDstudy at many Americanlaw schools. Curricula vary: an introductory course might focus on the "big five" federal statutesNEPA, CAA,
CWA, CERCLA and RCRA (or FIFRA)and may be offered in conjunction with a natural resources law course.
Smaller seminars may be offered on more focused topics. Some U.S. law schools also offer an LLM orJSD
specialization in environmental law. Additionally, several law schools host legal clinics that focus on environmental
law, providing students with an opportunity to learn about environmental law in the context of real world disputes
involving actual clients.[21]U.S. News & World Reporthas consistently rankedVermont Law School,Lewis & Clark
Law School, andPace University School of Law as the top three Environmental Law programs in theUnited States,
with Lewis & Clark and Vermont frequently trading the top spot.[22]
Many American law schools host student-publishedlaw journals. The environmental law reviews atYale,Harvard,
Stanford,Columbia,NYU and Lewis & Clark Law School are regularly the most-cited such publications.[23]
International environmental lawyers often receive specialized training in the form of an LL.M. degree at U.S.
institutions, after having a first law degree often in another country from where they got their first law degree.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-14%23cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Fish_and_Wildlife_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Fish_and_Wildlife_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Fish_and_Wildlife_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-15%23cite_note-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forest_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forest_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forest_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Land_Managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Land_Managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Land_Managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-16%23cite_note-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_jurisdiction_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Water_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Water_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapanos_v._United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-17%23cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_environmental_organizations#Government_organizationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_environmental_organizations#Government_organizationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_law_(common_law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_law_(common_law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injunctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Enforcement_and_Compliance_Assurancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Enforcement_and_Compliance_Assurancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Park_Policehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Park_Policehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Armed_Forceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-18%23cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-GP-19%23cite_note-GP-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-GP-19%23cite_note-GP-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-GP-19%23cite_note-GP-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-GP-19%23cite_note-GP-19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=28http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elective_class&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elective_class&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elective_class&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_doctorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_doctorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LLMhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_lawshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_lawshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_clinicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-20%23cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-20%23cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._News_%26_World_Reporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._News_%26_World_Reporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_%26_Clark_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_%26_Clark_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_%26_Clark_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pace_University_School_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pace_University_School_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-21%23cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-21%23cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_reviewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_reviewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_reviewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NYU_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_%26_Clark_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-22%23cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Environmental_Protection_Agencyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-14%23cite_note-14http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Fish_and_Wildlife_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._Fish_and_Wildlife_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Park_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-15%23cite_note-15http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forest_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Forest_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bureau_of_Land_Managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-16%23cite_note-16http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_jurisdiction_(United_States)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Water_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clean_Water_Acthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rapanos_v._United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police_powerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-17%23cite_note-17http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wetlandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fossil_fuel_power_planthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_environmental_organizations#Government_organizationshttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=27http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_law_(common_law)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injunctionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criminal_punishmenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Office_of_Enforcement_and_Compliance_Assurancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Park_Policehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Administrative_lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brazilian_Armed_Forceshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-18%23cite_note-18http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Jerseyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-GP-19%23cite_note-GP-19http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Israelhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-GP-19%23cite_note-GP-19http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Environmental_law&action=edit§ion=28http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Elective_class&action=edit&redlink=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juris_doctorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LLMhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctor_of_lawshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_clinicshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-20%23cite_note-20http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._News_%26_World_Reporthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vermont_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_%26_Clark_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_%26_Clark_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pace_University_School_of_Lawhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Stateshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-21%23cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law_reviewhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yale_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvard_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Columbia_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NYU_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lewis_%26_Clark_Law_Schoolhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_law#cite_note-22%23cite_note-22